Crock Pot Cooking

I had a feeling buying a crock pot would be a smart investment but little did I know just how convenient and helpful it would be for cooking. Plus, I’ve only made two meals out of it (for a total of 4 uses…repeated meals), so there’s a lot more to discover. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

My main purpose for buying it: shredded chicken for salads. I love the pulled rotisserie from the Whole Foods salad bar because it’s an easy thing to dress up. Dijon + avocado + shredded chicken = a quick and healthy meal. Substitute any dressing, sauce or topping to easily change it up.

So far, I’ve made a big batch of shredded chicken three times. I put in a few chicken breasts seasoned with rosemary, salt and pepper, a can of chicken broth and some water (to cover breasts) and let it cook on low (6 hours total). Once it was done I just shredded the chicken with two forks and called it a day.

My big crock pot “success” was cooking whole chicken with vegetables. I chopped up some carrots and placed them on the bottom of the pot. I rubbed salt, pepper and tarragon on the chicken, topped it with rosemary, and set on high (4 hour total). After 3 hours cooking I added leftover zucchini, which didn’t need to cook as long. It came out so well and gave me leftovers for a few nights. Roasted chicken and vegetables is a personal favorite mom-made meal so eating it for dinner felt very comforting.

The lighting in my kitchen is awful

The most difficult thing about this meal was cutting up the chicken and getting everything off the carcass. Forget trying to cut even, whole pieces. I already told my mom that I won’t be carving the Thanksgiving turkey anytime soon.

A few things about the crock pot I bought:
-After cooking it enters the “warming” setting so you don’t have to attend to it ASAP. I bought it because the tagline is “set and forget.” For me, any fancy settings were no competition with the word “forget.”
-There is a temperature probe so you can make sure the food is fully cooked.
-It’s HEAVY.
-It has a lid lock for transporting.

I want to get adventurous and make beef or pork but I might be getting ahead of myself. Also, because I live in the land of eternal summer, I probably won’t venture into the soup/stew/chili category for a while (if ever).

Favorite crock pot meal?

Best investment you’ve made lately?

Comments

The crock pot is the BEST…Be patient though. I have had a lot of failed meals that have ended up looking pretty gross and mushy, but overall it is the best during winter and since you are like me with easy and simple meals, this device is for us! Make sure to join the Pinterest group “Put In A Crock Pot” for tons of recipes!She Rocks Fitness recently posted…Life On Nantucket Is…

I have that same crock pot and I love it! I actually haven’t ventured into shredded chicken because for some reason I am scared I am going to mess it up. But I feel like there is really no way to mess up a crock pot meal like that, right? I just made a pumpkin chili that was delicious and I love making my spaghetti squash in there too! So simple and perfect when I am on the go all day and want to come home to a dinner already prepared.Brie @ Lean, Clean, & Brie recently posted…Foodie Swap Box Reveal

Being able to cook shredded chicken is actually one of the main reasons I’ve been thinking about getting a crock pot, too. I like the idea of being able to set it and forget it (like you said!) instead of having to supervise chicken in a skillet in the dorm kitchen for a while. It may be my next purchase!Liv @ Healthy Liv recently posted…Foodie Swap: Round 2

I’m obsessed with my Vitamix. I feel like although it was totally pricy, it was one of the best purchase I’ve ver made! I really need to get on the crock pot game for this winter – I feel like soups and chili would be the best!Jamie recently posted…Tuesday on the Run

I love my crock pot! I make so much in it. I also suggest getting liners so that you don’t have to worry about cleaning it out. It makes it so much easier! My all-time favorite is the Mississippi Roast- http://www.justapinch.com/recipes/main-course/beef/mississippi-crock-pot-roast.html It’s SO GOOD! I also found recipes where you can prepare bags of food, freeze it, then just pull one out and put it in the crock pot. This is great when you start to get busy- you can just spend an hour or so on a Sunday cutting things up, then just grab it out when you need an easy meal :)

I love my crockpot BUT mine doesn’t have the warm setting so I haven’t been able to use it a lot. I leave my house at 8 am and don’t return until 7 pm so I don’ twant to leave my food out (and not in the warm setting) for a few hours. Ugh!Patty @ Reach Your Peak recently posted…Chicago Marathon Training Week 15

My crockpot is literally one of my favorite kitchen appliances [my fridge is first!]. No joke, for my wedding I received 7 crock pots. SEVEN!! I thought ummm ok so either no one checks the wedding registry or these people think Im going to be birthing a football team sometime soon. Sheesh.Kat recently posted…Apple Cinnamon Waffles

I accidentally broke mine a couple months ago. I was trying to get something out of the cabinet and bam it slid out and broke all over the floor. I need to get a new one with the locking lid. I love the crockpot.
bakingrunner.blogspot.comHeather recently posted…bakingrunner: Who knew Wednesday

You are definitely making me want to invest in one of these as I am often out all day so to have dinner ready for when I get in would be brilliant!
Shredded chicken is so wonderfully versatile too- an entire post could probably be dedicated to the salad and meal combos you can create from it. xxcharlotte recently posted…Five Friday Favourites [08.14.15]

I love my crockpot! We’re thinking about getting a second, larger one so we can crockpot twice as much. I use mine every weekend and make some type of chicken to bring for lunch during the week. I’ve never added avocado to the finished project before – that sounds like a yummy addition!Rebecca @ MyEagerFeet recently posted…Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon Weeks 6-8

I just took mine out after being away all summer. I need it during the school year since we don’t get home from activities in time to cook. Shredded chicken or pork is always a winner :)Michele @ paleorunningmomma recently posted…Paleo Meals On a Sick Day – Soothe and Repair

I just made my first crock pot meal this week to kick of fall. I made a big batch of honey sesame chicken to make lettuce wraps and to top on salads..so good! My favorite thing to make in a crock pot is soup. Doesn’t get any easier than that!Sara @ Oats & Rows recently posted…Friday Favorites! 9/25

Hi, I’m Emily!

A twenty-something lover of long runs, home cooked meals and my dogs. Join me on my journey to find a mostly healthy balance in food, fitness and life.